Why am I not losing weight?

cjl2535
cjl2535 Posts: 89
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone...it's been almost a month since I started logging with MFP and I haven't lost a single pound :(

I don't mind the number on the scale too much but I still want to lose a bit. I was hoping to lose somewhere around 0.5 - 1 lb per week but so far NOTHING. It has fluctuated down and up and goes back to the same number I started with.

I am 19 years old, 5'4.5 and 155 pounds.

I do cardio (Body Combat for an hour) 3x a week
and
I do heavy lifting 4x a week

I average about 1900 cals/day - eating 1800 on weekdays and around 2000 - 2100 on weekends.
(I'm afraid of going lower and screwing up my metabolism and losing my period again as I did back when I suffered from anorexia :( )

Please feel free to check my diary =/ I log every single bite, I weigh everything I eat...

What am I doing wrong ? :(

Replies

  • lcangelini
    lcangelini Posts: 33 Member
    Are you sure you're logging everything correctly? (item weight, serving size, calories burned etc.)

    Also, I'm also 19, 5ft 4 and started at 155 pounds haha. I'm 137 now tho and still looking to loose a few more. I'm currently eating 1200-1300 calories and exercising 6 days a week (3-4x cardio, 2x-3x strength). I'm losing at roughly 1.5-2lbs per week.

    I would lower your calorie intake to around 1600 with exercise if you're worried about screwing up your body/hormones. You may be eating at just maintenance right now.
  • cjl2535
    cjl2535 Posts: 89
    Are you sure you're logging everything correctly? (item weight, serving size, calories burned etc.)

    Also, I'm also 19, 5ft 4 and started at 155 pounds haha. I'm 137 now tho and still looking to loose a few more. I'm currently eating 1200-1300 calories and exercising 6 days a week (3-4x cardio, 2x-3x strength). I'm losing at roughly 1.5-2lbs per week.

    I would lower your calorie intake to around 1600 with exercise if you're worried about screwing up your body/hormones. You may be eating at just maintenance right now.

    Yea I'm more than positive that I am logging correctly.. I literally log every single bite, and weigh everything to the gram

    Hmm...I've tried lowering to 1600 with the macros but I started experience similar symptoms that I did back when I had anorexia (period stopping, hair falling out, acne, etc.)...
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Given your history, this might be a question better taken up with your doctor or dietitian.
  • arrey24
    arrey24 Posts: 7
    Considering your previous experience with anorexia, I would strongly recommend consulting your doctor on this issue. Have you tried varying up your exercise? Sometimes switching to different types of exercise can boost your weight loss. Also, If you are doing heavy lifting, you are most likely gaining muscle, which can mean you are gaining muscle weight while losing fat. Don't depend on the scale alone, take measurements also.
  • cjl2535
    cjl2535 Posts: 89
    Considering your previous experience with anorexia, I would strongly recommend consulting your doctor on this issue. Have you tried varying up your exercise? Sometimes switching to different types of exercise can boost your weight loss. Also, If you are doing heavy lifting, you are most likely gaining muscle, which can mean you are gaining muscle weight while losing fat. Don't depend on the scale alone, take measurements also.

    Yes I have! I changed up my lifting routine about a week and a half ago :)

    Hm...can muscle be gained that fast ?? I'm kind of new to the whole heavy lifting thing =/
  • elzalvarez
    elzalvarez Posts: 2 Member
    You should definitely consult your doctor, but, honestly, muscle weighs WAY more than fat. Since you are new to heavy lifting there is a chance you might be shedding all the fat and gaining muscle.
  • cjl2535
    cjl2535 Posts: 89
    You should definitely consult your doctor, but, honestly, muscle weighs WAY more than fat. Since you are new to heavy lifting there is a chance you might be shedding all the fat and gaining muscle.

    I've tried many times with the doctor about weight issues and anorexia but I feel that they're not really experience in that particular area....I've been to 3 doctors already and I don't find them very helpful =/

    Do you happen to know how much muscle women can put on on average ? I thought you couldn't gain muscle without a surplus ?
  • love8383
    love8383 Posts: 169
    I don't think you should eat less calories, but maybe you could just change the food your eating and see what happens, same amount of calories but healthier foods. When i cut out more carbs and sugar and eat more lean meats and veg even though im eating the exact same number of calories i seem to lose alot more weight.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    muscle weighs WAY more than fat.
    Actually, muscle does not weight more than fat, it weighs the same but takes up less space.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    CJ,

    You said you have anorexia type symptoms return when you lower your calories. This, along with an eating disordered past, means you need to talk to your doctor and perhaps for a referral to a nutritionist.
  • cjl2535
    cjl2535 Posts: 89
    CJ,

    You said you have anorexia type symptoms return when you lower your calories. This, along with an eating disordered past, means you need to talk to your doctor and perhaps for a referral to a nutritionist.

    This was actually one of the topics I've talked to my doctor about, but the only answer she provided me was that I was eating too little.... =/
  • becky4m
    becky4m Posts: 61 Member
    I had this problem. Working out using my HRM. Logging everything to the "T". Nothing was working. So I lowered my intake by a hundred every two to three weeks until I found my "sweet spot". My intake was just wrong. Now I lose about 2 pounds a month. Which is perfect, only 9 pounds to go!
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    If your doctor isn't qualified to treat EDs or doesn't refer you to a specialist then fire her *kitten* and find another doctor. You should be working with an ED specialist and a support group.
  • cjl2535
    cjl2535 Posts: 89
    If your doctor isn't qualified to treat EDs or doesn't refer you to a specialist then fire her *kitten* and find another doctor. You should be working with an ED specialist and a support group.

    Haha :P well that was like a year or two ago and I've worked really hard to recover from it but I've gained a lot of weight doing so.

    I can safely say that I don't have an ED mindset anymore so it's not my biggest concern right now...I was just saying that it is one of the main reasons why I'm not lwoering my intake too low =/
  • cjl2535
    cjl2535 Posts: 89
    I had this problem. Working out using my HRM. Logging everything to the "T". Nothing was working. So I lowered my intake by a hundred every two to three weeks until I found my "sweet spot". My intake was just wrong. Now I lose about 2 pounds a month. Which is perfect, only 9 pounds to go!

    May I ask how much of a deficit you're eating from your HRM TDEE ?
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I had this problem. Working out using my HRM. Logging everything to the "T". Nothing was working. So I lowered my intake by a hundred every two to three weeks until I found my "sweet spot". My intake was just wrong. Now I lose about 2 pounds a month. Which is perfect, only 9 pounds to go!
    Yep, a healthy half pound a week!
  • InsanityxthexGit
    InsanityxthexGit Posts: 3
    When we first start a new fitness plan, our body wants to hold onto our weight and fat. If it's only been a month, it shouldn't be surprising that you haven't seen results yet. Typically, results begin to show at least six weeks in (and it isn't unusual for it to take even longer), so don't worry if you aren't losing weight or your fat percentage isn't changing yet. What you can do is measure yourself and see if you are starting to get slimmer.
  • Dreed71
    Dreed71 Posts: 12 Member
    I was here for a little over a month before I started losing weight. I am 5'4" and I was stuck at 136. I began to lose weight after I started changing things around. I think I have found what works for me, but I am still tweaking it a bit. I am on a 1250 calorie intake. I drink at least half a gallon of water a day if not more. I do cardio EVERY day. Even if it is a 45 minute walk on the treadmill daily. I have found for me, that carbs are what kept me from losing anything. I also needed to up my protein. So, as I have upped my protein, and lowered my carb intake, I have slowly started to lose weight. It is frustrating I know, and it can feel like you are doing it for "nothing". You are going to have to take a look at what you are doing, and if it is not working, switch it up some until you find out what it is that works for you. I wish you luck! Hang in there, you got this!
  • AMStach
    AMStach Posts: 2 Member
    I had the same issue...I had increased my workouts from 3x per week to 6-8x per week and actually gained 7 lbs (and it wasn't all muscle...my tummy was bigger). I felt devastated. The luckiest unlucky thing happened, I found out I had a partial tear to my ACL...which made me have to find a new gym with a pool, since swimming was my only real option for cardio with this injury (if I don't work out, I definitely gain weight). My new gym offered free nutrition counseling...so I thought I'd check it out. My nutritionist had me increase my calories to 2200 calories per day, and re-arranged my fat/carbs/protein ratios. I now eat 80% of my carbs before and after my workouts (before I was simply eating a very low carb diet). I lost 7lbs in week one. I'm in week 2 right now and the weight loss has leveled off...I'm expecting to lose 2 lbs this week, which is a healthier pace. One more thing...my nutritionist had me add at least 10 minutes of slow-paced walking after each workout to get my heart in the fat burning zone...so you may consider exercises that incorporate that as well.

    Check out the reading material on body type eating...i.e. endomorphs (me), ectomorphs (what I wish I was) and mesomorph (what I wouldn't mind being at all). It may help you carve out a new nutrition and fitness plan that fits your body type.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Yes I have! I changed up my lifting routine about a week and a half ago :)

    Hm...can muscle be gained that fast ?? I'm kind of new to the whole heavy lifting thing =/

    Not that fast to mask fat loss. Which is why the stupid phrase muscle weighs more than fat isn't helpful.

    Now, you can gain water weight from body improvements that fast easily.

    You should start measuring many spots to see changes.

    Because if you are eating near maintenance, then your body can make the best changes from exercise while still dropping fat inches.
    And what are people going to see afterall?

    Is your workout routine every day with the body combat and the lifting?
    Like the same muscles being used intensely day after day?

    Exercise if done right tears the body down.
    It's the rest for recovery and repair that actually allow it to be built back up, stronger if diet allows.

    Just wanted to confirm you are getting the most from your workouts. You may indeed feel like you are working hard during them. But anybody with tired muscles wanting to repair will feel like they are working them hard if used day after day.
    But that's counter-productive.
  • IllustratedxGirl
    IllustratedxGirl Posts: 240 Member
    I didn't lose a single pound in my first month either.. But my clothes were loser and I lost an inch on my waist and an inch and a half on my hips. In the beginning it is possible to build muscle while losing weight..
  • PrissyPisces
    PrissyPisces Posts: 117 Member
    It seems that you're consuming the calories that are necessary for maintenance. I think you should decrease your daily calories, but of course anything under 1200 calories a day is what'll put your body into starvation mode. If this is not working, I'd definitely see the doctor. I have PCOS, and when I eat too much sugar, it hinders my weight loss. Also, you may not be losing weight, because you are now building muscle. How are your clothes fitting? Are you going down in clothing sizes?
  • PrissyPisces
    PrissyPisces Posts: 117 Member
    Topic writer, after reading more of your responses, I just wanted to let you know that PCOS causes irregular periods, it CAN cause abnormal hair growth (bits of facial hair, back hair, etc, and it can ALSO cause your hair to fall out. There are many symptoms. Get to a doctor asap. But I'll say, it took a doctor WHO CARED, to get me the proper diagnosis. I went years without my period, I unexpectedly gained weight, got a little bit of acne, and just didn't know what was going on. If you feel something isn't right, just keep making noise about your concerns, and you'll get the answers you need.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    You should definitely consult your doctor, but, honestly, muscle weighs WAY more than fat. Since you are new to heavy lifting there is a chance you might be shedding all the fat and gaining muscle.

    Picking a nit here, but a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat.

    Second nit to pick, starvation mode is a myth.

    Beware good intentions, traveller.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    If your doctor isn't qualified to treat EDs or doesn't refer you to a specialist then fire her *kitten* and find another doctor. You should be working with an ED specialist and a support group.

    Haha :P well that was like a year or two ago and I've worked really hard to recover from it but I've gained a lot of weight doing so.

    I can safely say that I don't have an ED mindset anymore so it's not my biggest concern right now...I was just saying that it is one of the main reasons why I'm not lwoering my intake too low =/

    Set-up your MFP profile to reflect your lifestyle before exercises. Set your weekly weight loss goal to 0.5 or 1 lb. per week. Add your exercises and eat back about half of those calories. Review after about a month and make any needed changes.

    Here are some links with more good information:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

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